The process initiated by the Biden Administration should result in the rescheduling or descheduling of cannabis. Descheduling would demonstrate cannabis’ low potential for abuse and represent a dramatic step toward achieving President
Biden’s criminal justice and racial equity goals. Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III, IV or V would mark historic progress toward ending federal prohibition and present a wide range of advantages over the unacceptable status quo, including:
Reducing the scope of potential criminal liability for cannabis-related activity.
Encouraging prosecutors and sentencing judges to view cannabis as a lower priority when making charging and sentencing decisions.
Providing federal tax relief from tax penalties associated with the enforcement of Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which are particularly burdensome for social equity and small operators.
Following President Biden's announcement, a growing number of elected leaders have come out in support of scheduling reform. Most recently, six governors and 12 state attorneys general urged the Biden Administration to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Leading members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have also urged the Biden Administration to proceed with rescheduling.
Scheduling reform enjoys additional support from a growing list of national organizations representing diverse constituencies. In December, a coalition of veterans and patient advocacy organizations urged the Biden Administration to expedite its administrative review of and reschedule cannabis to Schedule III or lower. In January, the American Nurses Association, which represents five million nurses across the U.S., endorsed rescheduling as “ a positive step toward developing an evidence-based approach for marijuana and related-cannabinoids use in disease and symptom management.”
In June 2023, CCSR released a comprehensive report on the classification of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act and the urgent need for reform. The report details the advantages of descheduling cannabis or rescheduling it at Schedule III or lower.
We are actively partnering with a broad range of companies, organizations and elected officials in support of cannabis scheduling reform. If you are interested in learning more, please get in touch with us at info@schedulingreform.org.